Monday, July 27, 2009

Oh July...how I love you...

July is a great month for many different reasons: first of all, it's the month we got married which makes it the BEST, it's blueberry pickin' time, it's pool time, and it's fair time! These are some of the favorites in the Carpenter household and they all happen in the month of July...
7 Years and going strong...
I cannot believe it has been 7 years since I married this man! Wow...words cannot describe the joy that I have and the journey we have experienced...here we are 7 years later, 2 3/4 kiddos and happier than I could have ever imagined I could be...really...I am constantly reminded of the man God has given me and how grateful I am for everything he is and everything he does for us. He's the best! I know the next 7 years are only going to get sweeter...and busier...and bigger...And an fyi..do you know how we spent our anniversary? At the Elkhart County 4-H fair. Ha...does that mean we are rednecks???


***

Blueberry Pickin'
I love picking blueberries...this year I thought it would be fun to take the kids along with me so they could help. James and Lauren both enjoyed it thoroughly...at least Lauren did for the first 10 minutes and it was all down hill from there. Our strong willed child was displaying and extremely strong will that entire weekend and weekend (I cried many times). Therefore, we only picked 2 lbs. of blueberries...yes...a measley 2 pounds! It won't make many pies or cobblers and really wasn't even worth the effort, but James had a great time and Lauren enjoyed eating them for a bit. We'll try again next year...
***


It's Fair Time...
If you remember last year friends, we made many trips to the fair really so the kids could enjoy the animals. This year was no different except Luke made me promise to keep my camera home all but once...Yes, I know sheer torture for those of us scrappers...but it drives him nuts when I'm trying to catch the perfect shot and it doesn't help that my camera is ginormous...needless to say I didn't get pictures of James eating the giant corn dog or us feasting on elephants ears and Dairy Bar ice cream, but trust me...we did...and it was all delicious!

James and Lauren both LOVED the animals. We spent a great deal of time in the various animal barns. James enjoyed feeding the horses their hay. We even got to see some of the baby piglets being born.. that was really neat!


Grandma and Grandpa Carpenter came down one evening to go the fair with us and we had a great time! The kids even rode a few rides...Lauren wanted to ride more, but she wasn't tall enough for most of them which she wasn't real happy about. If she could talk I'm pretty sure she would have given those carnies a piece of her mind!

They loved this little train ride and we sure enjoyed watching them laugh and giggle at each other as it went around the track.


***
Pool fun

My kids sure love being outside, but since it hasn't been that warm we haven't spent as much time in the pool and sprinkler as we did at the beginning of the summer. Here they are at G&G Bogue's. James' goggles crack me up...


***
Just because I love the way they play...
So this picture has nothing to do with the month of July except it they have been playing in the dryer many days during July. They are so fun to watch. Often times it's Hide and Seek, but the other night Lauren decided to join James in there. I just think it's funny and sweet. Nothing sweeter than watching and listening to your kids play together. And just think...in less than 8 weeks we will have another munchkin in the mix of things!!! YEAH!!!


***

32 weeks and still growing....


And here is the 32 week belly shot. I'm having my maternity pictures taken so so I will be sure to blog those as well... It's coming quickly! I cannot believe it!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Capturing Moments

These are the pictures I had taken of the kids a couple of weeks ago that I promised to let you see. Here they are: I just LOVE the way my friend Darcy was able to capture the moments, quirks, and personalities of and between James and Lauren. These are just several of many (110 to be exact) that are some of my favorites. Enjoy scrolling through them!
I love how big and blue her eyes look in this picture



This is the sweet smile I think of when I think about James...this is the same smile he gets on his face when I ask him if he knows how much I love him...

We had trouble getting a picture with the two of them together. Lauren wasn't real interested in James getting "too close" therefore James wasn't interested in being batted away by her. :) This one is just endearing....it's sums up the relationship I hope these two always have...




I love this face and the fact that we "have" it. She makes this a lot...especially when she
sees something she likes.





I love this one too...anything James does, Lauren does. She has so many of the same interests and bents that he has...So cute...



Have a great week! I will post again soon!